AFriendlyFace

What a delightfully irreverent and amusing piece

The style and structure of the poem are very unique and fascinating. I also found the imagery to be quite powerful and effective. My only criticism is that I found the piece to be a bit opaque. On the other hand, when I got to the section about the mimosas in part 4 my mind completely wandered off and began pondering my favourite Sunday brunch beverage. So perhaps the opacity was the fault of my own distractibility and not a failing of the poem itself. Anyway great piece -Kevin

Oh my gosh, yes!!! I was totally thinking that when I found them

**Warning Explicit language** A couple of her best gay affirming songs: Lily Allen - f**k You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ITZBBV8Syg Lily Allen - Fag Hag All her stuff's pretty cool. She has a cheerfully dark edge to most of her songs.

You know you're right; they do have a sorta similar style now that I think about it.

Aww, well I personally love that style!

I can't wait to go read it! My gratitude and thanks to all -Kevin

Hey Old Bob I remember all of those individuals. I'm afraid my speculation is more or less the same for each of them. I think they got busy with other things. Of course I might be wrong, but that is my suspicion. Naturally one might ask how someone can be so busy for two years that they don't have time to even drop by. However, I can definitely see how such a thing might happen. I personally, have "disappeared" quite a few times since I joined the site. Very often I've been gone for up to a few months at a time. In those instances, yes I was busy with other things. Was I so incredibly busy that I couldn't have spared 5 minutes to drop by? Probably not, no. However, I know the sort of person I am. I tend to spend alot of time doing something, or else none at all. I have some degree of middle ground, and occasionally I can get into the habit of doing something for only a little while each day, but that is not my natural inclination. If I like doing something I jump in with both feet. If I have the time I don't read for an hour and then go on about my day; I read for the whole day. I don't go for a half hour walk; I go for an all day, on foot adventure. I don't go shopping to one or two stores for an hour; again, I make a whole day of it. Thus, when I log on GA it's tough for me to hang around for about a half hour or so and then leave. No, when I log on, I'm usually on for awhile, or else I feel "rushed" and don't have as good of a time. So anyway, several times in the past I haven't had time to spend hours here, so I haven't spent minutes either. I'm not saying that's what happened to them, but it could be. Anyway, I wish them all well wherever they are Take care all, Kevin

How prudent and restrained of you! This post pretty accurately describes my thoughts on the matter. I like to think anything is possible, but in all honesty I'm more of a skeptic and fall into this line of thought. Also very reasonable and prudent

Yeah, actually Bristol doesn't look that fresh either! Poor baby seems to have missed out on parents altogether and gone straight to grandparents Oh well, everyone knows grandparents are the ones who spoil the child anyway! Well I did suspect -Kevin

Thanks for the info, Celia! Just as a reminder, while I don't think a general discussion of the film is inappropriate here, please do let's avoid allowing the discussion to get too political or heated; let's save that for the Soap Box threads

Hey Mark No, that wasn't what I meant at all. Sorry for the confusion. I was actually only referring to the fact that at least WriteByMyself's fifth friend - the one who didn't overtly support his being gay - wasn't being hostile to him or the issue of sexuality. Those are indeed really complicated issues! I'm a pretty outspoken proponent of full gay rights, but my position evolved gradually over years, and will probably evolve still further. I could be wrong, but I suspect your stance on these issues might change or develop over time too. I don't mean that to imply that your positions aren't sophisticated or developed now either. I think that it's natural and positive for people's positions to evolve as they continually reexamine the issues and their feelings and thoughts on them. I think that continual reevaluation is good. It's stagnation of thought and a refusal to listen to other points of view with a fresh ear that I find troubling. Eh, just me and my thoughts though Oh Mark, I'm so sorry. I know you said you're doing fine, and I'm sure you are (you certainly seem well-adjusted), but that must have been very difficult nonetheless and it sucks that you and your parents were in those difficult circumstances. Bipolar disorder is a very sad and difficult condition. Through my own very limited experience with people who have it I can readily identify with how tempting it is to try to close yourself off from them so that they can hurt your feelings or make you feel sad with their sadness. However, in my own experiences with such people at least, that emotional separation from those around you is tough, and it's really a no-win situation. I couldn't imagine having to go through that with one of my own parents, and it's even so much sadder because of what ultimately happened. I'm so sorry for the paint that must have caused and I'm even more impressed by you resilience and strength. Aww, how sad Don't blame yourself though, and don't let your dad blame himself either. Bipolar disorder can be extremely confounding to the people around the victim and remember that it's always easier to see the warning signs in retrospect than whilst in the moment. In the moment, it's difficult to get the perspective necessary to take a fresh look and it's only natural and expected that instead people tend to adjust and just focus on coping with the situation on a daily basis. I'm sure you and your dad both did your best just to get through it. Well, I can definitely see how you'd be a bit sad that you never got the opportunity to show her the full and real you. However, at the same time, it sounds like your identity as a gay person wasn't even fully worked out at the time, and your actual manifestation of being a gay person and leading a gay life certainly hadn't begun. So it sounds like she knew the expression of you and your identity that was most relevant at the time. Yeah, it sucks that you've had to deal with that. Of course it isn't his fault, nor was it your mother's, but it's definitely understandable that you'd feel like the situation is/wasn't fair; it really wasn't. I think everyone deserves to grow up in a healthy home without having to worry about their parents' health. It's really sad that for some people that isn't a reality. Well, then despite generally encouraging GLBT people to come out as much as possible, I'd actually advise you to keep waiting awhile longer. You definitely shouldn't do anything that would threaten your safety or security (even if that security is of an educational/financial aspect as opposed to a physical type). It also sounds like you have your hands full dealing with stuff as it is. So please don't come out if you don't feel ready or feel like you're in any sort of potentially precarious state! (and conversely let me add: please do come out as soon as you do feel ready and are assured of a safe and stable future without physical, educational/financial, or severe emotional consequences). Thanks for sharing that with us. It really gave me alot to think about! And yeah, sorry about the mix up with the hostile thing, as I said I meant that for writebymyself's situation. I am certainly always opposed to someone denying who they are. Except of course with the exceptions I mentioned above of being in a precarious situation and feeling uncertain about the consequences or generally not being ready. LOL! I know what you mean there! When I was in my early to mid-teens I was just plain sexual, no prefix (homo, hetero, bi, etc.) needed. LOL, actually I'm still just plain sexual, but the urgency has diminished enough for me to pause and reflect on it a bit more. Take care, dude Have a great day all! -Kevin

Interesting, I was just having this conversation with some friends the other night. Krista's definition is more or less similar to my own. Though I'm iffy on whether or not I consider oral sex to be full out sex. Basically, I don't, but I'm fine with other people considering it as such. I would probably qualify it as *oral* sex and not just say "sex". However I think all of that is mostly irrelevant because: Exactly! Basically, as far as I'm concerned to me sex in the strictest sense is anal or vaginal. Obviously that's not exactly "fair" to lesbians for example though. Does that mean I think all lesbians are virgins? Of course not! I think sex itself is pretty relative. For me other sexual contact isn't considered full out sex, but that doesn't mean I have a problem with other people classifying it as such. I would say that things like oral, rimming, frottage, mutual masturbation, etc. is a form of sex, and is sexual contact, but I wouldn't say it's actually sex. Does that mean that I think I (or someone else with a similar definition) could 'find a loophole' in a relationship by only engaging in these activities and avoiding the ones I consider full out sex? NO, not at all. Because personally I define fidelity and monogamy as avoiding any sexual activities with someone other than your partner. The above are certainly sexual activities even if they aren't "sex". That said, I actually think something like making out is a "sexual activity" though certainly not "sex" and certainly not on the same level as those other "secondary sexual activities" ('secondary' by my definition). I do think it's ludicrous for someone to define making out/kissing as "sex" and I couldn't really get behind that definition, even for other people, but I do consider it sexual in general. Therefore, I personally would consider making out/sexual kissing to be "cheating". However, on a side note, I think fidelity and monogamy are similarly relative and subjective. I define them in a fairly strict way which precludes any sexual contact. However, I would be completely fine with intense emotional experiences with other people, which to many would be more threatening than the sex. I thus understand that some couples may choose to define their concept of monogamy such that it could include acceptance of any and all outside sexual contact, but may preclude any intense emotional experiences. That's fine, it's all about the people in the relationship figuring out what will make them both feel happy and fulfilled as a couple and as individuals and then honouring that agreement. Anyway, getting back to the primary subject at hand, I guess I really think that sex can be defined subjectively by each individual/couple as any sexual activity they like, as long as that activity is indeed "sexual" and can theoretically and reasonably be expected to lead to orgasm if it persists and heightens. I don't think the people involved need to necessarily actually climax, but I think the theoretical, reasonable potential should exist.

I totally agree! Or "wood" to the "gay" (clearly that gets you banned as well). I agree with Robbie. They have the right to ban her because it's in their rules and they have the right to make those rules. However, it sounds like the rules are stupid and unfair. Woo hoo!!! Here's a great example of when taking a stance can make a powerful difference! I'm delighted and glad that Microsoft has the sense and humility to rethink their policy. -Kevin

Perhaps this is unrelated, but while being gossipy, that Levi looks old enough to be her father! In fact I literally thought he was her father when I clicked the link and saw that picture of them. I was thinking it was a picture of Bristol and her dad. I know he's only 19, but he doesn't look a day under 35.

Oddly enough, I think substituting "child" for "possessions' almost makes sense, and speaks the truth, in the above paragraph as well. Put simply, I think having a child can help or relationship, or it can make things much worse. Similarly, the parents can bond over the common parenting experience, and spend their time doting on the child, and driving it [crazy]. But of course the child would just be a catalyst and not the true reason a relationship worked or didn't work

Glad everything is okay now! LOL, judging by that picture I saw of them in the other thread, they certainly looked like the friendly, accepting sort ( ) Sometimes people need time to process what they've been told. Hopefully it all works out in the end, and it's great that the other four people were very supportive. I completely agree with agree Graeme. Sometimes it does just take people a little while to process things. At the same time though, I'd also like to mention that if you let him, he really might pretend you'd never said it. That's also human nature when someone doesn't know how to deal with things. Now that you have said it, be casual about it, but keep it "on the table" so to speak. You don't have to "throw it in his face" every five minutes, but I do recommend making appropriate references etc. when sexuality/dating/relationships/gay issues comes up. If you're able to show him that it's something you're comfortable with, something you're willing to discuss casually, and generally something you feel positively about, then there's a good chance he'll take that cue and treat it more casually himself. That's just my advice though; take it with a grain of salt Anyway four out of five people is great and it's a big plus that the fifth person isn't being hostile about it at least Take care all, Kevin

Well I don't know, but if it comes along twice send the extra one my way Tim! That sounds like a really good deal I got rid of them for you

Actually I did enjoy their music, thanks I was just thinking "gee, that's something I'd hate to step on if I were a giant." My typical weekend: Friday night: unwind, possibly go to sleep early, otherwise go out. Saturday day: wake up around noon, stay in bed for a couple of hours reading, go to my favourite cafe' for a late lunch with whatever random assortment of friends wish to accompany me. Go shopping, or possibly catch up on housework. Saturday night: Go bar/club hopping with friends. Sunday day: Sleep late, have brunch at one of my favourite restaurants, go for a walk, rollerblading, or to the gym. Sunday evening: bum around and do some hardcore chillin'. Of course I might have other plans on any given day, but in the absence of anything specific that's more or less my general weekend routine.

Awww! Neville has quite an inquisitive look Snowy really looks like she's smiling in those pictures! Oh my gosh! Hadrian is one seriously cute pup! Aww, what an adorable dog, looks very much like a little person.

Great pics, you guys

Have a very happy and special birthday!

To kiss it would seem Billy's got good taste; nothing's hotter than the son of a preacher man It's the underwater thing that I'm incredulous over. How did you open your mouth the water rushing in? How did you manage to keep holding your breath while kissing? Eh, it doesn't all seem physically possible, but then I can't swim so what do I know? *shrug*

Wow! I would have to say that of all the responses so far I agree with yours the most, Robbie! In fact I pretty much completely agree with what you've said